The Rockies announced the selection of infielder Owen Miller onto the major league roster. Colorado optioned third catcher Braxton Fulford back to Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move. The Rox opened a 40-man roster spot by transferring Thairo Estrada from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list.
Miller reaches the majors for the fifth consecutive season. He played somewhat regularly with Cleveland between 2021-22, combining for a .231/.283/.338 slash over 190 games. The Guardians traded him to Milwaukee over the 2022-23 offseason. Miller posted a .261/.303/.371 line in 314 plate appearances during his first season with the Brewers. He wasn’t much of a factor last year, appearing in only 14 games before being designated for assignment in July.
The right-handed hitter cleared waivers and remained in Triple-A with Milwaukee for the rest of the year. The Brewers dealt him to the Rockies in the opening days of the offseason. He made 28 appearances this spring as a non-roster invitee. Miller began the year in Triple-A, where he’s hitting .244/.322/.372 with two homers through 90 trips to the plate. While that’s not especially impressive in the Pacific Coast League, Miller posted a more respectable .276/.354/.392 line in Triple-A last year. He’s not an option at shortstop but can back up the other three infield positions.
Ryan McMahon is the everyday third baseman. The injury to Ezequiel Tovar has pushed Aaron Schunk into regular shortstop work. Youngster Adael Amador is starting at second base on most days, while Kyle Farmer is also mixing into the middle infield. Miller joins Farmer on Bud Black’s bench. He’s out of minor league options, so the Rockies would need to designate him for assignment if they decide to take him off the MLB roster.
Estrada’s IL transfer officially rules him out for the first two months of the season. The 60-day minimum backdates to Opening Day. Estrada broke his right wrist when he was hit by a pitch late in Spring Training. He would have opened the season as the starting second baseman after signing a $3.25MM free agent contract.
Loved him in “Meet the Parents”
I liked him in the WWF as a tag team partner with his brother Bret The Hitman
But those “Night at the Museum” movies were pretty annoying.
Fulford was…interesting…to say the least. In his first game he went 0-4with 4 strikeouts. Been done before though. His second game was far more eventful. He hit a home run AND had three throwing errors from behind the plate. One to each base even. His home run got the Rockies one run. His errors cost them three. And he is supposedly the best defensive catcher in the organization.
They don’t need him right now. They already have two catchers. He wasn’t expected to stick.
“Owen doesn’t have a Cousin Paddy”
Miller will be a very good reserve. Another Dylan Moore. He does hit a lot but does do it at the right time. Puts the ball in play. So gives them a chance instead of a lot of strike outs. Milwaukee should’ve kept him over Capra and Collins honestly